Westlake man accused of impersonating police officer (photos)

WESTLAKE, Ohio -- A police placard and a Westlake police badge displayed inside the windshield of an SUV confused two Westlake police officers because the man behind the wheel didn't look like one of their fellow officers.

The badge and placard -- which was actually a folded polo shirt with the word 'police' written on the back -- were just the beginning, according to a police report.

The driver, Stephen Salem, 47, of Westlake also admitted to installing strobe lights on the front and back of his SUV to make it look more like a police cruiser.

Salem is charged with impersonating a police officer along with possession of drugs and possession of drug abuse instruments in the Monday incident. He is free on bond and his case has been sent to a Cuyahoga County grand jury.